Centrifugal aerocycle.



R. J. MQLAUGHLIN. GENTBIFUGAL ABBOOYGLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1913.

1,090,322. Patented Mar. 17, 1914,

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ZUztn esses. Inventor.

1%. J. MQLAUG H LIN.

OENTBIFUGAL AEBOOYOLE.

APPLICATION IILED MAY 6, 1913.

1,090,322. Patented Mar. 17, 1914;

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ROBERT J. MoLAUG-HLIN, OF NEW YORK, 11'. Y.

CENTRIEUGAL AEROCYGLE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar, 17, 1914 Application filed May 5, 1913. Serial No. 765,600.

LIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at 528 Fordham road, borough of the Bronx in the county of New York and-State of New York, have invented a new and useful Centrifugal Aerocycle, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the centrifugal aerocycle in which two air chambers geared together revolve around the same vertical axis, discharging air downward, and receiving an upward reacting thrust; and the objects of my improvement are. first .to simplify the machine and increase its efficiency by combining the two air'chambers into one vessel; second, to increase the efiiciency by substituting a series of vertically arranged blades in place of the vertical. vanes of the upper bell shaped ves sel; third, to simplify the gearing devices by arranging them on one axis; fourth, to increase the efliciency by substituting a semispherical hood at the baseof the chamber in place of the circular plate of the lower cylindrical vessel; and fifth to provide means for equalizing the effects of skin friction. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1, is a view in perspective of the entire machine with portions broken away; Fig 2, a vertical section of the entire machine; and Fig. 3, a detailed horizontal section of a part of the machine on the line c--d, Fig. 2.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A metallic bell shaped vessel consisting of a wall 1, a hood 2, blade 3, and vanes 7 is revolved around a stationary hollow axis shaft 6. Centrifugal force causes a partial vacuum along this axis which induces a current of air from above. The entrance of air from below is blocked by the semispherical hood 2ksituated at the base of the chamher, and revolving with it as a fixed member around the shaft 6. Inside shaft 6 is a revolving hollow shaft 14 carrying three similar, rigidly attached cog wheels 19 which revolve in similar gear boxes forming parts of shaft 6. This shaft 6 consists of sections. of tubing which are connected with the u ar boxes but 0 he central earper' and lower sides of the contains one of the cog wheels 19. The gear box 16 is attached rigidly to the stationary shaft 6. This box consists of a hollow, metallic, flat drum with central openings above and below for connection with shaft 6, and the accommodation of shaft 14. There is an opening on the side of the gear box 16 for a pinion 18 which revolves on upper and lower sides of the gear box 16 and which meshes with one of the cog wheels 19. The pinion 18 serves'to transmit the power to the hoop 17, which consists of a steel rim with teeth on the inside. fastened at two opposite points to blade 5. This construction is clearly seen in Fig. 3 showing the device 8" which is one of three similar gearing devices 8*, 8 and 8". Each gearing device consists of a gear box, a cog wheel, a pinion and a hoop. Shaft 14 is cut-off directly above the gearing device 8. Blade 3 revolves around shaft 6 at the hub 9. Blade 5 revolves around shaft 6 on the hubs 15 and 21, which rest on the upper and lower sides of gear box 16. Blade 4 revolves in a similar manner to blade 5 around the upper and lower sides of the gearing device 8*.

The hood 2, the vanes 7, the wall 1, and blade 3 are supported 'on four flat bars 11 which revolve on hearings on the upper and lower sides of gearing device 8 around shaft 6. The cog wheel 20 is rigidly fastened to shaft 14, and is driven by a chain 10 connecting shaft 14 with the engine. Shaft 6 is rigidly fixed to two supporting braces 12 and 13 which carry the machine, and are part of the frame work of an airship.

The wall 1 is built to approximately arallel the course of the air descending into the chamber until a point or reverse curvature is reached. The course of the air is governed by two forces, namely, the atmospheric pressure driving the air downmaintained around the axis of the vessel, and the centrifugal force both caused by the action of a series of revolving blades 3, 4, and 5; These blades are vertically arranged, curving slightly in the direction of motion at their upper art, and inclining downward 'vertically at tli graduated velocities, drivingthe air against the sloping wall 1. They are geared together so that blade 3 revolves around a verticalpin connecting extensions of the eir lower part, and revolve around the axis shaft 6 with regularly.

ward into the partial vacuum constantly developed around the axis of the vessel, and

the axis shaft with a relative velocity of 1, blade 4 revolves around the axis shaft with a relative velocity of 2, and blade 5 revolves around the axis shaft with a relative velocity of 3. In this manner the rotary velocity of the air is accelerated until discharged by the blade 5 into the spaces between the vanes 7. The hood 2 serves to convey 'the current of air away from the axis and againstthe vanes 7 with the least resistance. These vanes are rigidly connected with the wall 1 and the hood 2. They are radially arranged, and receive a spiral current of air from the upper part of the chamber. This spiral current is the resultant of the horizontal and vertical motions of the air in the upper part of the vessel. The convex sides of the vanes 7 face the directionof revolution. Their upper parts incline backward toward the descending current of air atv an angle of about to the horizontal, and their lower parts also curve backward from the direction of revolution at an angle of about 80 to the horizontal. Concentric zones. of rare faction and compression are extend under the sloping wall 1 against which the air is deflected downward, exerting at the same time an upward reacting thrust.

One of the principles underlying this in.- vention is the great gain in efliciency obtained bygradually increasing the velocity of the air passing through the apparatus by successive stages, at the same time distributing the reactions among several sets of revolving blades. The gradual increase in the velocity of rotation of the air is attained by the movement of the air from the axis of the vessel to the wall 1, and by the action of the blades 3, 4, and 5. Blade 3 revolves around the axis at one unit'of velocity.

Blade 4 revolves. at two units of velocity, and blade 5 revolves at three units of velocity. The relative velocity of rotation of blade 3 to the entering air is 1 toO. When the air encounters blade 4; it has one unit of velocity of rotation derived from blade 3, while blade 4 has two units of velocity. Therefore the relative velocity of blade 4: to the air engaged by it is 2'to 1. \Vhen the air encounters blade 5 it has two units of velocity of rotation derived from blades 3 and 4:, and

blade 5has three units of velocity. Therefore the relative velocity of blade 5 to the air engaged by it isB to 2. Hence the relative velocity of rotation of each blade to the air engaged by it is'the same. Skin friction retards therevolution of blades 4 and 5 by the adhesion of the revolving air to the inner surface of the wall 1, which thereby receives an acceleration of velocity. This acceleration is in turn transmitted by the gearing device back to the blades 4- and 5. The retardation and acceleration due to skin friction between these parts of the machine is therefore reciprocal. The upper parts of the vanes 7 are inclined at the angle of the descent of the air against them. These vanes serve to deflect-thev resultant motion of the air, and to discharge it backward just enough to neutralize the revolution imparted to the descending current of air by the rotary motion of the vanes themselves. It must be especially noted that these vanes 7 deflect, and do not check the resultant motion of the air, which performs a double duty, first by exterting its power to drive the vessel, and second by imparting a very heavy vertical reaction. As the radius of the vanes is small, and the velocity of the air is high, the intensity of centrifugal force is extreme,

and this intense pressure is available principally for the operation of the aerocycle.

A unique feature of the invention is the development of a velocity of discharge not only greater than the velocity of the chamber butof the fastest moving member in the chamber, namely, blade 5. As power increases as the cube of the velocity it is an efiicient principle and very desirable that the machine should impart to the air by direct and indirect action a velocity greater than that of any moving member. Rotation of air being developed and destroyed in the vessel the machine is in equilibrium.

Having described my invention what I claim is:

1.. In a'centrifugal bell shaped vessel series of blades geared together revolving 1n the same direction around the axis of the machine with regularly'graduated increas ing velocities, said blades'being vertically disposed with their upper parts curving 1n the direction of revolution and their lower parts incliningvertically downward.

2. In a centrifugal vessel with a lesser ciring from the lesser to the greater opening, a

series of blades geared together revolving in the same direction around the axis of the machine with regularly graduated increasing velocities, said blades being vertlcally disposed with their upper parts curving 1n the direction of revolution and their lower parts inclining vertically downward, d1-

rectly imparting a horizontal rotation, and

indirectly imparting both a vertical deflection to the air against the inner sloping wallof the vessel, and a resultant spiral movement to the air, and indirectly exciting a 1 partial vacuum around the axis of the vessel, and thereby inducing a vertical suction of air into the vessel from above.

3. In a centrifugal deflecting vessel a series of blades geared together revolving in the same direction around a stationary shaft with regularly graduatedincreasing velocities driven by a shaft revolving in the I was the vertical axis of said bell shaped vessel, a gearing devlce between said vessel and.

said blades, the said blades tending to accelerate the revolution of the bell shaped vessel by the adhesion of the revolving air to the inner wall of the vessel by virtue of skin friction, and through the gearing device common to the said blades and the bell shaped vessel, receiving back the tendency to acceleration of the bell shaped vessel in a reciprocal manner so'that the retardation of the blades by skin friction is in part counteracted. i

The combination with a centrifugal bell shaped vessel and with a series of blades revolving horizontally around the axis of the said bell shaped vessel, of a series of curving vanes set in the lower part of the said bell shaped vessel, radially disposed, presenting their concave surfaces to a current of air descending spirally by'virtue of the resultant motion of the air developed by the action of the said blades in revolving the air horizontally, and by the action of the said bell shaped vessel in deflecting the air vertically downward; said curving vanes having their upper parts nearly normal to the said descending current of air, which upon entering against the said vanes spirally, is deflected and discharged vertically, thereby imparting a vertical thrust and a rotary movement to the said vessel; said vanes having their lower parts curved backward from the direction of revolution, and having their convex surfaces facing the direction of revolution.

6. The combination with a centrifugal vessel, having a lesser circular opening above and a greater circular opening below, and a deflecting wall sloping from the lesser to the greater opening and with a series of blades revolving horizontally around the axis of the said centrifugal vessel, of a series of curving vanes set in the lower part of the said bell shaped vessel, radially disposed,

presenting their concave surfaces to a current of air descending spirally by virtue of the resultant motion of the air developed by the action of the said blades in revolvin the air horizontally, and by the action 0 thesaid bell shaped vessel in deflecting the air vertically downward; said curving vanes having their upper parts nearly normal to the said descending current of air which upon entering against the said vanes spirally, is deflected and discharged vertically, thereby imparting a vertical thrust, and a rotary movement to the said vessel; said vanes having their lower parts curved backward from the direction of revolution, and having their convex surfaces facing the direction of revolution.

7. The combination with a centrifugal vessel having alesser circular opening above, and a greater circular opening below, and'a deflecting wall sloping from the lesser to the greater opening; of a semi-spherical hood located in the center and lower part of the said vessel, revolving around the axis of the said vessel and presenting a spherical surface to a current of air descending by suction and vertical deflection in the said centrifugal vessel, thereby conducting the said current of air against curving vanes set in the lower part of the said vessel, and receiv ing a diminished shock from the said current of air.

8. In a centrifugal bell shaped vessel, curving vanes set in the lower part thereof,

a semi-spherical'hood located in the center and lower part of the said vessel, revolving around the axis of the said bell shaped ves sel, and presenting a spherical surface to a current of airy descending by suction and vertical deflection in the said bell shaped vessel, thereby conducting the said current of air against said curving vanes set in the lower part of the said bell shaped vessel, and receiving a diminished shock from the said current of air.

9, In a centrifugal bell shaped vessel a semi-spherical hood, located in the center and lower part thereof having its convex side adjacent to a series of revolving blades developing a partial vacuum along the axis of the upper part of the said bell shaped vessel, and above the said scmi-spher1cal hood, and having its concave side below, and in contact with the air at the normal atmospheric pressure revolving around the axis of the said bell shaped vessel, and serving to block the entrance of air from below into the partial vacuum maintained along the axis of the upper part of the said vessel, and receiving an n ward thrust from the atmospheric pressure elow by virtue of the inequality of pressure on its convex and concave sides. J

10. In a centrifugal bell-shaped vessel a series of blades successively arranged on a vertical axis, attached to arms and revolving in the same direction, a series of curving vanes set in the lower part of, and revolving with, the said bell shaped vessel,

a hollow shaft rigidly fixed, a series of I horizontally disposed gear boxes, consisting of fiat steel drums having extensions on their upper and lower surfaces and openings upon one side thereof, located on said shaft, pinions insaid openings revolving on vertlcal'pins journaled in said extensions; said pinions gearing with the teeth of circular horizontally each in the said rigidly fixed hollow shaft; said revolving shaft being actuated by a chain and sprocket-wheel fixed to its lower end i said revolving shaft driving the said blades and vanes in the same direction with regularly graduated, increasing velocities so that the topmost blade revolves at the least ve-.

locity, and the lowermost blade at the great- :est velocity, and said lowermost blade at three times the velocity of the said curving vanes for the purpose specified. I

11. In a centrifugal vessel with a lesser circular opening above, and a greater circular opening below, anda defiectingwall sloping from the lesser to the greater opening,

the combination of a series of blades, gearedtogethef, revolving in the same direction around the axis of the vessel withregularly graduated increasing velocities being vertically disposed with their upper parts curving'in the direction of revolution and their lower arts inclining vertically downward, direct y imparting a horizontal rotation, and indirectly imparting both a vertical deflection to the air against the inner sloping wall of the vessel, and aresultant spiral movement to the air, and indirectly exciting a partial vacuum around the/axis of the vessel, and thereby inducin a vertical suction of air into the, vessel rom above;

with a stationary hollow shaft in which revolves an inner shaft carrying cog wheels which mesh with pinions attached to the said stationary hollow shaft and transmit to the said blades regularly graduated increasing velocities;.and with a semi-spherical hood'loca-ted in the center and lower part,

of the said centrifugal vessel, revolving around the axis and presenting a spherical surface to the descending current of air thereby conducting the said current of air against curving vanes set in the lower part of the said centrifugal vessel and'recciving adiminished shock from the" said current of air; said carving vanes being attachedto the said semi-spherical hood and radially disposed,-presenting their concave surfaces to the descending current of air, with their upper parts nearly normal to the said descendin'g current of .air, and having their lower parts purved backward from the direction of revolution and having their convex surfaces facing the direction of revolu-' tion for the purpose specified.

ROBERT J. MCLAUGHLIN.

Witnesses 5 I SELDEN B. MOLAUGHLIN, BEVERLEY F. MOLAUGHLIN. 

